Apparatus for separating bodies of different



'(No Model.)

' 2 SI1eats--Sheetv 1. T. H. MULLER 8u J. W. DECASTRO.

APPARATUS FOR SEFARATING BODIES r0F DIFFERENT SPECIFIC GRAVITIBS;

Patentd Feb. 27, 1883.

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l Patented Feb. 27, v1883.

. frm/'5725012' nular shelves, O2 O3, as shown.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.Y

TEILE H. MLLER AND JACOB lV. DEGASTRO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR4 SEPARATING BODIES 0F DIFFERENT SPECIFIC GRAVITIE'S.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.' 273,127, dated February 27', 1883.

T Application filed August 25,1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, TEILE HENRY MLLER and JACOB W. DEoAsTRo, both of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus forl Separating Bodies of Different Specilc Gravities, of which the following is a full, true, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of ourinvention is to construct a new and useful apparatus based in principle upon a centrifugal machine, by means of which bodies of diiierent specic gravities may be separated from each other; and our invention also relates to an improvement in said apparatus, by means of which the separated bodies lnay be continually removed Without stopping the operation of the apparatus, thereby enabling the process of separation to be carried on continuously.

Our invention will be readily understood from the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters refer to similar parts.

Figure 1 representsavertical section through my apparatus g' Fig. 2, a top view or plan; Fig. 3, a horizontal section through the dischargepipes; Fig. 4, a vertical section, partly in perspective, showing details of the circumference or periphery of the basket and the separating mechanism..

Our apparatus consists generally in an improved centrifugal machine, which machine may either be hung from above or supported from beneath; but in the form shown it is supported from beneath.

A represents the pedestal of the centrifugal machine.

B represents the curb surrounding the basket.

C represents the basket,which is divided in sections bythe annular' rings or shelves C2 C3. This basket is made up, as shown, of a series of independent castings or rings laid one upon the other,butmay be arranged in any suitable way, but is preferably provided with two or more an- Projecting between the bottom and the first shelf and between each two subsequent shelves are pipes E' D E2 D2, as shown. These pipes, which are arranged to withdraw the deposited material l from the rings, are' provided with lips or cutting-edges extending almost to contact with the ring-periphery. The pipes El E2, Src., should be adjusted so that their cutting-edges are closer to the periphery than the cuttingedges of the pipes D D2, Src. These pipes, as shown, are supported upon an adjustable beam, H; but they might be arranged in many' ways, and the position of their cutting-edges with reference to the periphery of the rings might be made adjustable by sliding or adjustable pieces upon the ends of the pipes, iustead of by moving the whole pipes at once. The pipe D is provided with aconnection, D, which delivers upon the upper surface of the next annular shelf, O2. The pipe D2 is provided with a similar connection, D, delivering upon the upper surface of the shelf C3. The other pipes, E EZ E3, allconnect with a deliverypipe, F2. As shown, the pipes E D' E2 D2 E3 D3 are connected above and below by horizontal plates a. A pipe or pipes, W, are provided for delivering a stream` or streams of Water under pressure into the space between the shelves a and the pipes E' D E2 D2, Ste. The upper pipe, D2, connects with the pipe F', (shown in Fig. 2,) by which the waste products are removed from the apparatus, as will .be subsequently explained. A pipe, G, is provided for delivering into the mill the material which is to be separated. This pipeis preferably located behind the discharge-pipes in the direction in which the mill is revolving, as shown in Fig. 3.

Our apparatus is well arranged for the separation of starch from triturated grain carried in `suspension in water, and we will describe its operation in causing such separation. The grain itself should'first be thoroughly ground and the husk and offal removed by` a sieving or other suitable apparatus. The starch- Water then, containing generally the starch and gluten is led tothe apparatus bythe pipe G, the object of the machine being to separate the starch from the gluten con tinuously. Starch has a greater speciljc gravity than gluten. The starch-water then is delivered onto the bottom of the basket through the pipe G. The solid particles in the starch-Water will immediately be compacted against the periphery of the IOO machine, lodging first in the lower corner. They will then move gradually upward, the separation between the starch and gluten being more thoroughly effected as the motion' continues. When the surface of the compacted mass arrives at the point where the corner of the first tube, D', meets it, it will be found that the starch is separated from the gluten which exists as an inner ring. The tube Dl is so adi usted that its cutting-edge will enter the co n1- pacted mass so deeplyas to remove thoroughly the gluten and a portion of the starch. The amount of starch and gluten deposited in any given time will of course depend upon the amount fed to the machine, and the feed, therefore, should be so regulated as to accomplish the desired result. The starch and gluten removed by the pipe D are delivered upward through the pipe D3J upon the second shelf, G2, where the same operation is again repeated, a second separation occurring there, and the gluten with a portion of the starch being again removed upward and deposited in the same way through the pipe Db upon the third shelf, C3. Another separation precisely similar is here again occasioned, and the last cutter, D3, delivers to the pipe F almost pure gluten. A certain amount of starch may of course be removed with it, and this material being carried to another machine, the pure gluten may be removed, leaving but a very small residue of .mingled starch and gluten, which may be further separated, it' desired. lt will now be seen that after the cutters D D2 D3 have acted upon the deposited starch and gluten nothing but pure starch exists in that part of the machine which has traveled past them. It is now desired to remove this pure starch. In order to do this it is necessary that it be once more put in suspension or floated in water. Waterjets therefore are provided, by means of which streams of water are caused to be jetted against the compacted starch now lying between the sides a d, and said starch being so removed from the sides, the starch-water is carried ol` through the pipes E E2 E3, delivering into the pipe F2, from whence it may be taken either to be dried as laundry-starch in an ordinary separating centrifugal machine, or may be converted into glucose by well-known processes. The jets of water, NV, should be projected .against the sides with considerable force. rlhe water is preferably forced through a number of small perforations or nozzles against the deposited hollow cylinder of starch. The plates a, extending between the nozzles D2 and E2, prevent the liquids which may have passed by the side of the nozzles D2 from entering between the two plates, so that thetubes E E2 E3 received only such material as has passed the edges of D D2 D3.

Now, it will be readily seen that the tubes or nozzles D D2 D3 might all be connected with a single discharge-pipe, F2, while the tubes E E2 E3 might deliver material taken up by them upon the shelves next above, in

the same way as the pipes D D2 D3 do in the present apparatus. In this case the lighter material would be removed pure, while the heavier material would flow from the apparatus, together'with a small amount of lighter material.

Ve have described our apparatus as applied to the separation of starch and gluten; but it may equally well be applied to the separation of any other bodies of different specific gravities.

Itis plain that, if desired, but one section of the apparatus need be employed; or an apparatus might be employed having but one set of removing contrivanees, and also that these removing contrivanees might be arranged iu various ways, for some ot' which I intend to make application.

It is important that the cutting-edges ot' the removing-tubesshould maintain a constant distance with reference to the periphery of the basket. Therefore the basket should be caused to rotate constantly in the same plane, and guides may be employed to accomplish this result; or the cutting-guides should be caused to move with the basket. We do not in this application claim the process of separating starch and gluten described, intending to make a separate application therefor.

Vhat we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A centrifugal machine provided with two cutting-edges located in the same horizontal plane and at different points in the circumference of the basket.

f 2. A centrifugal machine provided with two or more annular noir-communicating compartments, arranged one above the other, and a cutting device adapted to remove material from one compartment and deliver the same into the next, substantially as described.

.3. A centrifugal machine provided with two or more horizontal shelves and two cutters and removing contrivanees located at different points ot' the circumference above each of said shelves, substantially as described.

4. A centrifugal machine provided with two or more annular compartments, arranged one above the other, and a cutting contrivance adapted to remove material from one com partment, and provided with an outlet into another compartment, substantially as shown and described.

5. A centrifugal machine provided with two cutters or removing apparatuses opening to- .ward the circumference, and an apparatus adapted to throw a jet of water upon the compacted material between said removing contrivanees, substantially as described.

6. A centrifugal machine provided with-two cutting or removing apparatuses projecting toward the circumference of the apparatus and located at different points of said circumference, and a guard connecting said apparatuses to prevent the mingling of foreign substances with the deposited material which has passed IOO IIO

IZO

the first cutting apparatus, substantially as the mingling of foreign substances with deposdescribed. ited material which has passed the rst cut- 1o 7. A centrifugal machine provided with two ting' apparatus, substantially as described.

cutting or removing apparatuses projecting to- TEILE HENRY MLLER.

5 Ward the circumference of the apparatus and J. W. DECASTRQ located at different points of said circumference, and two guards, one above and one below, connecting said apparatuses to prevent Witnesses:

GEO. H. EVANS, ANTHONY GEEF, J r. 

